The 52nd San Francisco International Film Festival kicks off on April 23, 2009, at the Castro Theatre with Peter Bratt’s La Mission about an ex-con trying to make a better life living in San Francisco’s Mission District, until he discovers his son’s secret that threatens to destroy him. The film stars Benjamin Bratt, Erika Alexander and Jeremy Ray Valdez.
At this year’s festival, don’t miss tributes, awards and forums organized and chosen by the San Francisco Film Society.
1. The San Francisco Film Society recognizes, every year, filmmakers who have contributed vastly to the art of cinema and filmmaking. The Founder’s Directing Award for 2009, given to masters of world cinema, will be given to Francis Ford Coppola. The 2009 Peter J. Owens Award, given to filmmakers who have contributed well to cinema and its organizations, will be given to Robert Redford. And this year’s recipient of The Kanbar Award For Excellence In Scriptwriting is James Toback.
2. The Midnight Awards, sponsored by W Hotel and 7×7 Magazine, honor a young American actor and actress who have greatly contributed to independent and Hollywood films with their exceptional talent, intelligence and character. This year’s recipients are Evan Rachel Wood and Elijah Wood.
3. Centerpiece Event features the West Coast premiere of American director Marc Webb’s 500 Days Of Summer featuring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. This movie follows the 500 day romance of Tom and Summer. A cocktail eception follows the movie premiere at Clift Hotel. Both events will be on May 2.
4. The SFIFF also has organized different forums throughout the festival. Hear director Barbara Ettinger and producer Sven Huseby share their thoughts on making their documentary A Sea Of Change and the issue of ocean acidification. Listen to Jennifer Maytorena Taylor tackle the issues of American Muslims and destroy the negative image they currently have through her documentary, New Muslim Cool.
The SFIFF closes on May 7 with Alexis Dos Santos’ Unmade Beds at the Castro Theatre. Unmade Beds is the story of two young expats in East London, each with their own mission, crossing paths along the way.
